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Frequently Asked Questions about UU
What is Unitarian Universalism?
It’s a liberal religion that draws inspiration from many of the world’s religions
and other sources. We believe no one religion has all the answers, but there is wisdom in each of them. We believe in equality and in each person’s
responsibility to develop his or her own personal faith.
We have a long history of social justice activism,
including civil rights and equal rights for women. Half of the ministers in our denomination are women. We are welcoming to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and
transgender people. There is also a strong environmental aspect to Unitarian Universalism. We believe in living responsibly upon the earth so that future
generations may also live.
What are your church services like?
They are Protestant in nature, with hymns, readings, and a sermon. Our services are
about an hour in length. Our readings may come from poetry, the Bible, other spiritual texts, or
essays about nature.
What do you believe about God?
God means different things to each of us. Few of us would say we believe in a
grandfather-god who would save some people and condemn others or intercede in our lives or in the world. Many of us believe in a god who is more of a
universal spirit or who is in each of us. Others do not believe in a god.
What about the Bible and Jesus?
The Bible is one of many sources of inspiration for us. We are also inspired by
poetry, literature, other religious texts, and music. None of these are the final authority for us, but we learn from all of them. We believe that Truth is
not absolute. It changes over time. We take more inspiration from Jesus’ life than from his death. We regard Jesus as one of several important moral and
ethical teachers who have shown humans how to live a life of love, service, and compassion.
With so many different beliefs, what holds you together?
Unitarian Universalism is a WAY of being religious rather than embracing a specific
religious doctrine. For us, religion is an ongoing search for meaning, purpose, value, and spiritual depth in one’s life. Our creed is not doctrinal, but
moral: to love your neighbor, work for a better world, and search for truth with an open mind. We come together in community to support each other as we explore
our own truths.
What do you teach children?
Children in our religious education classes learn about the beliefs and practices of the
world’s major religions. They learn Bible stories and how to think for themselves about religion, ethics, and living responsibly in the world. We have
an award-winning denominational sex education program for our youth. We believe in helping our children become moral and responsible citizens.
Why have I not heard of your religion?
It’s fairly small, about 250,000 members and, frankly, we don’t spread the word as
well as we should. That may be because we don’t have simple answers. But we DO have great questions! If you haven’t heard of the religion, you probably HAVE
heard of some of the people who have been Unitarians or Universalists. People such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Louisa May Alcott, Charles Darwin, Beatrix Potter,
Paul Revere, Susan B. Anthony, Isaac Newton, Albert Schweitzer, and Clara Barton. And you’ve heard about some of the causes we’ve been involved with.
Our denomination has been active in advocating for equal rights for people of color and women, challenging oppression around the world, working for world
peace, and in supporting environmental causes. We look not toward a perfect heaven, but a good earth.
Where can I learn more about Unitarian Universalism?
We have put together some information called Principles & Purposes. You may also wish to visit the UU Association
which has two FAQ pages, page one and
page two.
